*JimH* wrote:
"Ian Malcolm" wrote in message
...
wrote:

wrote:

*JimH* wrote:


WD40 has become a versatile fluid for lubrication, cleaning and water
proofing. This site gives 2000 uses for it.
http://www.twbc.org/wd40.htm

How do you use it on the boat?

I don't, it sux & is basically marked-up Stoddard solvent. There are
far better penetrants as well as cleaners, and calling it a lube is
almost a joke.


Under the right circumstances, it's a fairly good lubricant, as is
water.

A good few years ago I remember reading an article about some testing done
on various lubricants. This would probably have been in an electronics
magazine. Basically, the tests (IIRC it was an inclined plane test with
metal on metal and plastic on metal) showed that although the friction was
lower with freshly applied WD40 than when dry, it was significantly higher
than with just about any commonly available oil or grease and that adding
WD40 to *ANY* other lubricant resulted in *MORE* friction than either that
lubricant or WD40 alone. YMMV, but its the *LAST* thing I reach for if I
want lubrication.

I keep a minature can on board for de-watering my Seagull's carb and
ignition if it ever goes for a swim, but otherwise its strictly a workshop
convenience for sticky label remains, drilling or cutting Aluminium,
cleaning up small parts etc.

There are a couple of spray cans on the shelf and the oldest one (which I
try to use up first unless I've left it somewhere stupid) is still about
1/3 full and has been there about 20 years. Its not a jumbo can either. A
friend used to rent the garage and I 'inherited' it and a few tools from
him so I am certain how long I've had that can. The other can he had on
the go lasted me till the late 90's. He loved the stuff but was very much
a 'hammer' mechanic.


I agree that it is not a great lubricant when compared to common grade oil
or grease. It can, however, be used as a light lubricant, although perhaps
not as effective as light machine oil.

It is sometimes specifically noted as an acceptable light lubricant in
certain cases and by some manufacturers:

After 40+ yrs of working on, operating & restoring electronic gear on
the side, I can say confidently that WD-40 is the worst **** you can
spray on anything electrical or electronic that is of any future value
to you or another. There are 2 pages of reasons why & how this has
proven so. I now refuse to buy, work on, resell or trade anything
electrical or electronic that's been sprayed with WD-40 if I can find
out first. Armor-All and its cousins is tied with WD-40 for first
place in overall debilitation (in different ways & materials).

It is also lousy as a marine or machinery penetrant. AeroKroil is the
best spray penetrant/loosener presently available. WD-40 is used by
shade-tree tyros & wannabes who've never used a professional product or
like wasting time.

WD-40 is **** for fogging outboards.

It is also lousy as a cutting & tapping fluid. TapFree is the best,
though it's formula isn't as good as it was 10 yrs ago B4 the
tree-huggers had govenment ruin it a little by subtraction, and good
old lard is still excellent on those materials it's traditionally been
used with.

WD-40 and many other spray contact cleaners or penetrants eventually
destroy switches, potentiometers, circuit boards, tube sockets,
electrical phenolic-mounted components & the like. They almost always
cannot be removed from the material and eventually it arc-tracks if it
is high voltage. There is also no sense in using contact cleaners most
of the time. Modern contacts are silver, gold or berylium plated &
their oxides are as conductive as the base metals. The few times a
contact cleaner is really needed, it needs to be applied carefully with
a toothpick or similar exactly and only to the metal contact needed,
and never to the surrounding insulating material.

WD-40 as a lure enhancer is well-documented among my local area FW
fishermen, including a few tournament bass-ers. They are not
dope-smokers or usenet liars who fantasize about being boating experts.
It is believed & credibly reported that some of its oil content is
fish-derived, which may or may not have anything to do with this use.
Since all the fish are now too full of mercury to eat, I haven't tried
it.